Watch F1 drivers earn their paychecks in the Austin deluge this morning.

Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes AMG F1 W06 at Formula One World Championship, Rd16, United States Grand Prix, Qualifying, Austin, Texas, USA, Saturday 24 October 2015. © Sutton Motorsport Images

Weather in Texas has been borderline biblical, flash floods, rain, lightning, the works.

Circuit of the Americas and FOM were in the awkward situation of having to look after public safety and getting on with the business of racing for a global audience.     The decision would not make anyone happy:  FP3 would go ahead with the track closed to spectators.

You would think no team would think of sending a car out on track under those circumstances but there was a catch:   because of the uncertain forecast for the afternoon qualifying session, FP3 times MIGHT count as qualifying!

2013 Formula 1 New Jersey Grand Prix Confirmed on Tuesday?

There was some talk of this this past summer, I like many others war more than a little skeptical but this just popped up on AutoWeek.

" Speed TV on Friday said it will interrupt its regularly scheduled programming on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 2 p.m. Eastern to "bring audiences live coverage of a special announcement regarding the future of Formula One Grand Prix racing in the United States."

The broadcast is expected to be the formal announcement of the previously rumored New Jersey F1 race that will take place in view of the Manhattan skyline, probably in 2013 and likely paired with the Montreal F1 race.

The effort to bring the race to a temporary street-circuit in Weehawken and West New York in New Jersey is headed by gentleman racer Leo Hindery Jr., who is the former head of the YES network, and who is married to Speed TV executive Patti Wheeler, daughter of former Speedway Motorsports Inc. executive and legendary promoter Humpy Wheeler.

A well-regarded NASCAR executive is rumored to be joining the effort, though that announcement may or may not come on Tuesday.

The race is expected to complement the already-announced U.S. Grand Prix scheduled to debut in November 2012 in Austin, Texas, as well as a race planned for Mexico."

If it happens, they better use the Lincoln tunnel helix and run the cars around the Javitz Center and back out to New Jersey!

Stay tuned



Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111021/F1/111029957#ixzz1bT7nXZDD" .

USGP in Austin: Americans fans say "Show me Cattle"

Safe to say the whole of the F1 world was surprised by the announcement of Austin, Texas as the site of US GP. Most surprised seemed to be people in Austin, including the Mayor and the Chamber of Commerce, characters you would imagine would be at least bit players in an enterprise of this magnitude.

A quick survey of opinion on online forums and assorted gathering places shows US fans are delighted F1 will be back but take a very guarded wait and see attitude with regards to this project in Texas. Indianapolis and USF1 are still sore spots and many are realistic about the daunting challenges ahead for the project. Some brought up the British GP at Donnington fiasco.

The organizers admitted they have yet to purchase land for the facility, I imagine price on 500 acre plus parcels of land has increased significantly this week.

Then there is construction, from scratch, of a world class modern Formula 1 venue in under 24 months.

There is cost, is half a billion dollars unrealistic? Might even be low. State and local government are said to be behind the project but likely just in the form of credits rather than upfront funds. Many have doubts Texans will want to give tax money for a bunch of European millionaires racing cars they don't especially care about.

On the other hand Texas has a huge base of extremely wealthy motorsport enthusiasts. Private money, big corporate money, not a problem there. Motoring fans are just hoping there is cattle to go along this this project's big hat.

Home

They're human too... well, almost.

Another great week end for racing fans, USA Grand Prix at Indianapolis and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Here is a little clip from Friday practice when the drivers are learning the track and chasing the set up... yes, they make mistakes too and not just Adrian Sutil, even Lewis "walks on water" Hamilton. I guess the difference is that come Sunday, Lewis will have stopped making them while chances are Sutil will end up beached.

Speed TV and Fox are really doing a good job covering the US GP, all practices have been shown as well as extended driver interviews. Final Practice is on at 11am est followed by Qualifying.

Attention DVR users: the race tomorrow will be on FOX, not SpeedTV.


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